Coal mines in Lancashire.
"In the late eighteenth century the output of coal grew rapidly due to the development of steam machinery and the demands of industry generally. In 1858 there were 380 coal mines in the County of Lancashire and they produced 8 million tons during the year; by 1874 the number of mines ...558 and the output of coal had doubled"
"The coal mined during the 18th and 19th centuries was extracted from the seams of high quality coal having such geological conditions that they were easily mined. Good coal seams having good mining conditions provided good profits. The intensity of extraction which had been achieved over the period 1860-1920, in such seams from the small Lancashire Coalfield, caused them to become exhausted during the ten years 1920-1930. Unavoidably, the more inferior seams which had been developed had to be worked more intensively resulting in the market value of the product being reduced accordingly. Lancashire coal no longer had the quality which for many years had ensured consistent demand at such a good selling price that mine owners were assured of handsome profits. With the exhaustion of the most valuable coal seams at depths of about 2,500 feet, mine shafts were deepened to locate good seams at lower horizons, until mining in the 1920-1930 decade was being carried out at depths of 4,500 feet.
Dust and very high temperatures made mining difficult beyond normal human effort and in many instances men were unable to attend regularly at the mine; production costs were seriously increased and the profit margins were further reduced.
The combination of heat and dust in the deeper workings of mines in Central Lancashire in the 1930 to 1950 period created for the colliers working conditions which were probably without parallel in any other mines in the country at that time. Salt tablets were supplied to the men to replace that lost by excessive perspiration when at work. Losses in body weight up to 12 pounds in 8 hours by men in the deeper parts of mines were recorded."
It goes on to explain that after Nationalisation in 1947 more capital became available for mechanisation but after 1955 demand for coal fell with the subsequent closure of the mines. In 1907 (358 mines), 1950 (80 mines) by 1970 (12) and the last date 1975 (9).
I do not think there are any deep coal mines in Lancashire today although I remember a few years ago in the local paper articles about an open cast coal mine which was causing problems for local people.
I wonder what happened in the lives of the colliers after the census 1901. I think they must have been hard times, and I am on the lookout for information which tells of their lives. So if anyone could recommend any books etc. I would be most grateful.
Another question that naggs at me (I know the answer will never definitely be found) is why did Joseph Steele leave the Leigh area for New Shildon. Any suggestions welcome. I know from the census that Ephraim Aspinall was also in New Shildon - his wife was from Durham. From oral history the story goes that they had nothing but a kitchen knife and that they went to live with an uncle, his wife was not very welcoming. One suggestion by mum is that no one in Leigh had room to take them in. Another is work - but at that time (before 1901) that did not seem a problem. There was contact so it is unlikely to be a family feud. My nana said both her grandmothers from the Leigh area visited them in the north east. And Joseph Steele went back to Leigh to visit his mother. We know Joseph had to get married - but that seemed to me quite commonplace.
Ephraims birth was registered in Mar 1897, and Josephs father James death was registered in June 1897. Of course we do not know if they left for New Shildon before James died.
"The coal mined during the 18th and 19th centuries was extracted from the seams of high quality coal having such geological conditions that they were easily mined. Good coal seams having good mining conditions provided good profits. The intensity of extraction which had been achieved over the period 1860-1920, in such seams from the small Lancashire Coalfield, caused them to become exhausted during the ten years 1920-1930. Unavoidably, the more inferior seams which had been developed had to be worked more intensively resulting in the market value of the product being reduced accordingly. Lancashire coal no longer had the quality which for many years had ensured consistent demand at such a good selling price that mine owners were assured of handsome profits. With the exhaustion of the most valuable coal seams at depths of about 2,500 feet, mine shafts were deepened to locate good seams at lower horizons, until mining in the 1920-1930 decade was being carried out at depths of 4,500 feet.
Dust and very high temperatures made mining difficult beyond normal human effort and in many instances men were unable to attend regularly at the mine; production costs were seriously increased and the profit margins were further reduced.
The combination of heat and dust in the deeper workings of mines in Central Lancashire in the 1930 to 1950 period created for the colliers working conditions which were probably without parallel in any other mines in the country at that time. Salt tablets were supplied to the men to replace that lost by excessive perspiration when at work. Losses in body weight up to 12 pounds in 8 hours by men in the deeper parts of mines were recorded."
It goes on to explain that after Nationalisation in 1947 more capital became available for mechanisation but after 1955 demand for coal fell with the subsequent closure of the mines. In 1907 (358 mines), 1950 (80 mines) by 1970 (12) and the last date 1975 (9).
I do not think there are any deep coal mines in Lancashire today although I remember a few years ago in the local paper articles about an open cast coal mine which was causing problems for local people.
I wonder what happened in the lives of the colliers after the census 1901. I think they must have been hard times, and I am on the lookout for information which tells of their lives. So if anyone could recommend any books etc. I would be most grateful.
Another question that naggs at me (I know the answer will never definitely be found) is why did Joseph Steele leave the Leigh area for New Shildon. Any suggestions welcome. I know from the census that Ephraim Aspinall was also in New Shildon - his wife was from Durham. From oral history the story goes that they had nothing but a kitchen knife and that they went to live with an uncle, his wife was not very welcoming. One suggestion by mum is that no one in Leigh had room to take them in. Another is work - but at that time (before 1901) that did not seem a problem. There was contact so it is unlikely to be a family feud. My nana said both her grandmothers from the Leigh area visited them in the north east. And Joseph Steele went back to Leigh to visit his mother. We know Joseph had to get married - but that seemed to me quite commonplace.
Ephraims birth was registered in Mar 1897, and Josephs father James death was registered in June 1897. Of course we do not know if they left for New Shildon before James died.
posted by Steele-Golborne | 12:35 AM
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